Visit of Somaliland Delegation

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington , DC
January 20, 2008

Visit of Somaliland Delegation

A high-level delegation from Somaliland, led by President Dahir Kahin Rayale, departed Washington January 19 after an eight-day visit. While here, the delegation met with senior officials of the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of Defense, and National Security Council staff, among others. This cordial and constructive visit demonstrated U.S. engagement with Somaliland in furtherance of our common interests in the areas of regional peace and security, economic development, and democratic reform.

2008/041

Released on January 20, 2008

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jan/99508.htm

Source: US State Department

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/314/027.shtml

Top US envoy for Africa meets Somaliland leader

Somaliland : US Divided Over Existing Policy

President Rayale and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer

Washington DC, January 19, 2008 (SL Times) – While a recent meeting confirms internal policy divisions within Washington, it highlights Somaliland’s notable democratic credentials.

Below is an article published by Agence France-Presse:

The top US diplomat for Africa has met with the president of Somaliland, but the talks do not mean Washington is ready to recognize the Republic of Somaliland, US officials said Thursday [18 January 2008].

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer had lunch with Somaliland president Dahir Rayale Kahin at the State Department on Monday [14 January 2008], a US diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

But State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stressed that the meeting did not imply US recognition of the northwestern coast region, which split from Somalia in 1991.

"There's no change in our policy position vis-a-vis recognition of Somaliland. We are not on the verge of recognizing Somaliland," McCormack told reporters.

"There is a process under way that the AU (African Union) is engaged in and we are going to be watching very closely that situation, but there's no change in our policy," he said.

McCormack said the meeting is part of Washington's policy of speaking with key players in Somalia in order to build democracy in the east African country, which has been plagued by civil unrest since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siyad Barre.

"We think it's important to have as many political contacts as we can with responsible individuals in Somalia who have an interest in building up the democratic structures and institutions of Somalia and trying to take it from where it is to a much more hopeful future," he said.

"Certainly, Jendayi's meetings ... fall solidly in that category and it's a policy that we are going to continue to pursue," he said.

"We have interest in fighting terrorism in Somalia, as well as in the Horn of Africa. ... Anybody who has an interest in a more peaceful and democratic Somalia has a role to play in this process."

A former British protectorate, Somaliland united with the Italian Somalia in 1960. But the region unilaterally broke away five months after Barre was ousted in 1991.

The Washington Post reported last month that US officials were debating whether to shift US support from the fragile Somali government to the less volatile region of Somaliland.

But State Department officials oppose such a move, putting them at odds with Defense Department officials who say that forging ties with Somaliland could help bring stability to the region, the Post said.

The Somaliland leader also had Washington meetings this week with officials from White House National Security Council, the Defense Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

His late predecessor as Somaliland president, Muhammad Ibrahim Egal, had a similar round of Washington meetings in 1999

The region of 3.5 million people, which adopted a provisional constitution in 1997 and ratified it four years later, boasts its own president, government, parliament, police force, penal code and currency.

Source: Agence France-Presse

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/313/027.shtml

Somaliland: UK Reiterates Cooperation

UK minister for Africa Lord Malloch-Brown

London, UK, January 16, 2008 – Following President Kahin’s visit to Britain, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office have reiterated their support for the advances made by the Somaliland authorities.

Press release published by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office:

During his visit to the UK, the Leader of the Somaliland Authorities, His Excellency Dahir Rayale Kahin had talks with the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown on the 8th January [2008]. They discussed the situation in Somalia and areas of mutual cooperation between the UK government and the Somaliland Authorities. He was accompanied by the Somaliland Foreign Minister, Abdillahi Mohamed Duale, and other Ministers. Mr Rayale also met officials of the Border and Immigration Agency of the Home Office and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Somaliland during his visit.

The Prime Minister welcomed the visitors during Prime Ministers Question Time in Parliament on 9th January [2008].

The government and Somaliland Authorities stressed their commitment to promoting peace, stability and democratic governance in the Horn of Africa, so that the humanitarian and developmental needs of the region's people can be addressed. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and to continue their cooperation in order to advance these commitments and help build on the progress made in Somaliland in recent years.

Source: Foreign & Commonwealth Office

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2008/313/3.shtml

Somaliland History 1960-1988

Song of Liberation from the Dictatorship of Siad Barre

Harsh Sentence for Qaran party leaders

Mandhera, Somaliland, August 25, 2007 (SL Times) – The three Qaran party leaders held in Mandhera prison were convicted by Hargeysa regional court on 20 August 2007 for an array of sedition charges and for illegally forming a political party, according to the prosecution. All three defendants were given a prison sentence of three years and 9 months and a 5 year ban from holding public office.

The three leaders of the Qaran party, Muhammed Abdi Gabose, and his two deputies, Muhammad Hashi Elmi and Jamal Aideed, have been held, since 28 July, in Mandhera prison, near the coastal port city of Berbera. They were charged with "engaging in unauthorized political activities” and “putting the good name of the head of state in disrepute”.

The trial was conducted in Mandhera Police Academy which is located less than 500 meters from where the defendants are held in Mandhera prison.

The defence counsel boycotted the two-day trial because, as they put it, “the Hargeysa regional court has does not have the mandate and the capacity to litigate on matters of constitutional issues, and this case is a matter for the Constitutional and Supreme Court to address”. The defendants added that ‘they had sent to the concerned body their written objections to the case, long before the court trial was scheduled, and that as is the norm, the court judge presiding in this trial, should have cleared with the defence counsel the concerns addressed in their letter to the regional court, prior to the opening of the case and its being tried in court’.

The Hargeysa regional court’s ruling and prison sentence of the Qaran leaders has been widely condemned by the opposition party, Kulmiye, as well as local and international civil organisations.

Source: Somaliland Times

http://somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/292/3.shtml

Somaliland Mediators End Government & Parliament Deadlock

The arbitration committee delivering their press statement

Hargeysa, August 25, 2007 (SL Times) – A group of prominent S/land figures announced on Monday that they have reconciled the long-standing dispute that divided the executive and the lower house of parliament over the national budget (2007) and the issue of the remaining National Election Commission (NEC) board nominees waiting for parliament’s endorsement.

The group, known as the arbitration committee, took the initiative to resolve the deadlock between the government and parliament as well as the issue concerning the detention and trial of Qaran party leaders.

The nine member committee, composed of poets, clerics, intellectuals and senior academics got the backing of the government and the lower house of parliament chair committee to resolve the deadlock.

They began their mediation efforts in the first week of August, holding extensive talks with the government, the lower house, and the two major political parties (Kulmiye and Ucid). The mediation committee managed to secure a consensus among all the stakeholders to accept a three point accord drawn up by the arbitration group.

This was made public by the arbitration group in a press statement issued on 20/08/07. The press statement said, “having listened, looked at and studied the different points of views and arguments held by the government, the chair committee of the lower house and the opposition, we have reached a three point accord and a set of recommendations which both the government and the lower house chair committee have accepted:

1. That the lower house of parliament will refer the two remaining election commission candidates (nominated by the upper house), to a vote in parliament.

2. That the government accepts to put into practice the endorsed amendments made by the lower house on the national budget 2007.

3. That the government will ‘unconditionally’ release the detained Qaran leaders and remove all restrictions in their movements and to resolve the issue of legitimacy concerning the status of their Qaran party in a civil and legal manner. In addition, the Qaran leaders should not get involved in activities which might endanger the peace and tranquillity of the country.

The arbitration group also addressed the government; a) to submit all treaties and agreements made to date with foreign firms and governments for parliament to ratify, b) that the government should submit on time the annual state audit and its accounts, c) that the government should produce and submit to parliament its political programs and policies, d) and the president should present the constitutional annual speech to parliament, e) all arrests and detentions should be executed according to the tenets of the constitution, f) in general, all state branches should perform and execute their duties within their defined constitutional limits and power.

The prominent group that arbitrated and reconciled the government and the lower house is chaired by the legendary Somali poet, Muhammed Ibrahim Warsame (Hadrawi), and includes Sh. Muhammad Omar Dirir, the great poet Muhammed Hashi Dhama (Gaariye), Sh. Ismail Abdi Hure, Sh. Yusuf Adan Muhammed, Prof Muhammed Saeed Gees, Prof Suleiman Ahmed Guled, Dr. Adan Yusuf Abokor and Saeed Ahmed Muhammud.

Source: Somaliland Times

http://somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/292/1.shtml

Letter To The President Of Somaliland

By Hussein Abdi Hussein; Doha-Qatar

Dear Mr. President

I profoundly commend this unrecognized party and its leaders which is not so far legally registered but had begun informal political activities in advance of the local elections expected to be held in December 2007. Sincerely, this was disgraceful not merely on one nation, but on a doctrine of respect of Somaliland constitution cherished by all Somaliland people. I urge the States of Somaliland and its society to irreverently condemn such misdemeanor, to bring to justice those who are responsible, and to prevent its repetition. But in one condition;

Whatever the response to this annoyance, it should not validate any nuisance. Rather, it should uphold the values that came with Somali Landers self proclamation, the principles of a democratic society, the accountability of the government and international law, and merge the requirements of security with the demands of liberty. We should be as vigilant in defense of the Constitution as we are firm in the fight against such crimes. That is the way we differ with the autocratic counties.

There is also a danger that some people may cynically take government act against those perpetrators as ethnic related crisis and of the "Reer Hebel" cause to justify their own internal repression, as we seen now since the day they were arrested, people calls (BAAQ) from abroad seems having a taste of ethnical issues, and expect that the Somaliland government will take accountable task to break its accuracy. The government should send a strong signal to those seeking to join this kind of inspiration, that it (government) will not tolerate oppressive opportunism in the face of this calamity.

Our background is

As we all know, the States of Somaliland has proclaimed its independency half of century earlier and not today. This proclamation comes from indignation endured with our alliance with Somalia, subsequent mistakes and eager to have our own republic and self being, lots of people lost their life and goods for this homeland and we are not today standing by loosing it so quietly. 'The iniquity began from the very start. There was a very disproportionate representation in the Parliament. The capital city became Mogadishu – in the South. The president was a southerner…the prime minister was from the south. So frustration began from the start.' Today things have changed and members of Somaliland's parliament represent all clans, which resolve the issue of division along regional or tribal lines. We have a multi-party constitution approved by referendum, we have our own capital and democratically elected the president, the vice president and peace is a tribute we gained from god and by this we (Somali Landers) are against anyone who'll not meet the terms of our constitution and government. So then we should pin down any perpetrator for his act and their accomplices and avoid harming the international human right but justice should be done.

But let be this first lapse a lesson and let me please ask you Mr. President to a wholehearted release of Mohamed Abdi “Gabose”, Mohamed Hashi Elmi, and Jamal Aideed and the Registration of the Qaran Party for the sake of our Republic. We don’t want these people considered as prisoners of conscience and be detained without charge for a prolonged period or subject to an unfair trial which may have consequences in the future.

May god bless you all.

Hussein Abdi Hussein Dualeh

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/291/25.shtml

Qaran Leaders’ Trial Opens In Mandhera Jail’s Vicinity

Dr M. Gabose (L), Mr J. Aidid (C) and Mr M. Hashi (R), seen leaving the court room on Thursday, walking back to the prison under escort. (photo: courtersy of JAMHUURIYA Newspaper).

Mandhera, Somaliland, August 18, 2007 (SL Times) – The leaders of Qaran Party, Dr M. Gabose, Mr M. Hashi and Mr J. Aidid who were arrested and jailed by the Somaliland government last month, appeared for the very first time on Thursday, in a specially arranged court in Mandhera police/custodial training school, Sahil region, 93 km northeast of Hargeysa.

The party leaders of Qaran, a non-registered political organization have been held in Mandhera high security prison since their arrest on 28 July 2007 for allegedly `engaging in unauthorized political activities' with the `intent to cause subversion'.

The court trial took place inside the grounds of Mandhera police /custodial academy which is a stone's throw from the high security prison where the party leaders are being held. The trial proceedings were administered under the Hargeysa Regional court’s jurisdiction which undertook special measures to change the location of the trial from the Hargeysa courthouse to the Mandhera district of Sahil region.

The families and friends of the defendants were turned away by police from attending the court trial, so they could not attend.

The umbrella human rights network group Shuranet and the local media were the only people permitted inside the makeshift court room. The majority of people were being turned away from the main Hargeysa and Berbera road by police.

The legal counsel representing the defendants boycotted the trial and argued that `it is not legal for a court of law to hold its proceedings inside a state government institution, and secondly, a regional court cannot hold its court cases in another region outside its region's jurisdiction'.

The court trial opened at 9: AM by Judge Saeed Yusuf Abdi. On opening the court trial, the judge accepted a request from 1st defendant, `Qaran' chairman Dr M. Gabose, to address the court, and he said: "Our legal counsel of representatives had communicated to your office a two point letter stating (1) whether the legality issue of Qaran as a political organisation is permissible or not, is a matter reserved for only the constitutional court of this country, and not within the capacities of a regional court to interpret and make a ruling on, (2) that according to the constitution, a regional court does not have the capacity to hold court proceedings outside its regional jurisdiction, let alone in the grounds of the security and defence forces.

Our legal counsel has been waiting for your response to this letter. For this reason, until we have our legal counsel present in this court proceeding, we are obliged not to cooperate in the trial."

Deputy chair of Qaran party, Mr M. Hashi also requested from the judge permission to speak, the judge accepted.

Mr Hashi said, "We are not party to this trial, nor will we cooperate with the court till we get our legal representation present in court". The same was also said by the 3rd defendant Mr J. Aidid who is the 2nd deputy chairman of Qaran.

The Hargeysa regional court’s prosecutor, Mr Yusuf A Kahin, made a formal request from the court that the legal counsel of the defendants should be held in contempt of court for not coming to court to represent their clients. Mr Kahin requested that the defence counsel should be fined 11 million Sl/sh ($1,800) and barred two years from taking part in legal court proceedings.

The regional court judge said that the court will give the defense counsel 30 minutes to appear in court, and that if they failed to do so, the court will issue a fine 5 million Sl/sh ($700) for contempt and a temperay ban of one year of their court representation licenses. The court then went into a 30 minute recess.

The court returned from its 30 minute recess and there being no sign of the defense counsel, the judge issued a decree against the absent defence counsel that the court has fined them 5 million Sl/sh. for contempt of court and year's ban from taking part in any legal court representations.

The judge said the proceedings will go ahead regardless of the defence counsel being absent, and read three counts of charges brought against the Qaran party leaders:

1. The defendants said that the president had lied regarding the construction of a $300 million cement plant and coal power station at Berbera; the defendants also declared the formation of a political organization which is against the law.

2. The defendants claimed that the Al-Jabri livestock venture was a fabrication and does not exist.

3. The defendants held illegal gatherings in Hargeysa and Gebile and did not take heed of the minister of Internal Affairs' letter which made it known to them that these activities are illegal, and that they should stop.

Among the prosecution’s witnesses who testified during the trial against the defendants were the head of Somaliland CID, Mr Ahmed Ali Shebel, the head of the Western Region's police division, Mr Adan M Guun, the head of Iftin police station in Hargeysa, Mr Muhammad Asye, and the Gebile town police chief, Mr Salah. All gave accounts of the public rallies held by the defendants in Odweyne, Hargeysa and Gebile.

After hearing the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the presiding trial judge, Mr Saeed Yusuf Abdi adjourned the court until next Sunday (18/08/07).

Source: Somaliland Times

http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/291/1.shtml